The tail of a comet is directed away from the sun because

1. as the comet rotates around the sun, the lighter mass of the comet is pushed away due to the centrifugal force alone
2. as the comet rotates, the lighter mass of the comet is attracted by some star situated in the direction of its tail
3. the radiation emitted by the sun exerts a radial pressure on the comet throwing its tail away from the sun
4. the tail of the comet always exists in the same orientation

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• A comet’s tail always points away from the Sun because solar radiation pressure and the solar wind push gas and dust released from the comet in the opposite direction. As the comet approaches the Sun, its icy surface vaporises, forming a glowing coma and tail directed away from the Sun regardless of the comet’s direction of motion.

Answer: (c) the radiation emitted by the sun exerts a radial pressure on the comet throwing its tail away from the sun